Climbing Trees Backwards

‘Climbing Trees Backwards’ explores a man and woman coming to terms with age and sexuality. The story, contemporary, centres on Robert Corlett and Angela Pearlman re-newing a relationship under different circumstances. Angela was Robert’s therapist in Paris following his psychotic breakdown.

Both characters are in the autumn of their years. Neither has led satisfying lives and the narrative examines the meaning of love to mature adults. Losing his second wife to cancer, Robert begins to explore life anew, questioning his inability to maintain loving relationships, his actions continually damaging both himself and women.

“Robert, don’t fool with me, don’t evade, don’t lie. Listen to your own voice: where is it? Not inside of you, not from any depth I can hear. You’re avoiding me again, aren’t you? Why phone me? Why pretend, why waste my time, and your own? Speak what you feel, ignore your defences, Don’t be a coward all your life.

“My life’s too short, as is yours. Robert you’re a grown man, mature, you have another twenty years, or you may not, don’t fuck me about. Don’t screw your chances with me or with anybody else. What do I have to say to make you see sense?”